Switching Kitchen To Gluten-Free

[TooManyHats]

Next weekend we will be switching over our kitchen to gluten-free. So far we know we'll need to clean out the pantry and overstock from the basement. We'll wash down all shelves in each area. We'll be washing down all kitchen cabinet shelves as well. Both freezers will be cleaned out of all gluten-containing foods and shelves washed down, including all shelves in the fridge as well. I have a ceramic tile kitchen counter. This makes me nervous. Any hints on how to make sure this is cleaned of all gluten? I also know that sponges need to be replaced and kitchen towels need to be washed.

We'll be replacing our strainers, kitchen cooking tools, cutting boards, and toaster oven (yea! hate that one anyway). What about all of my tupperware bowls/containers?

Have I missed anything? ANY help would be most appreciated. Thank you in advance!

[sa1937]

Next weekend we will be switching over our kitchen to gluten-free. So far we know we'll need to clean out the pantry and overstock from the basement. We'll wash down all shelves in each area. We'll be washing down all kitchen cabinet shelves as well. Both freezers will be cleaned out of all gluten-containing foods and shelves washed down, including all shelves in the fridge as well. I have a ceramic tile kitchen counter. This makes me nervous. Any hints on how to make sure this is cleaned of all gluten? I also know that sponges need to be replaced and kitchen towels need to be washed.

We'll be replacing our strainers, kitchen cooking tools, cutting boards, and toaster oven (yea! hate that one anyway). What about all of my tupperware bowls/containers?

Have I missed anything? ANY help would be most appreciated. Thank you in advance!

I did toss out some (but not all) Tupperware since it was ancient and I knew I wasn't comfortable using it. I figured the bowls needed to be history as they were used for gluteny cakes, cookies, etc. Some other Tupperware storage containers I kept depending on the condition.

How about non-stick pots and pans, especially if they are scratched? Mine probably should have been thrown out ages ago so I did when I went gluten-free (bought an inexpensive set of T-Fal to replace it because sometimes I do like to use non-stick cookware). I kept my good Calphalon cookware and just gave it a good scrubbing.

I don't have a ceramic tile countertop but I would think giving it a good scrubbing would work.

Do you use strainers for pasta? I also tossed mine, as well as a Tupperware colander, which I just loved so I replaced it with stainless steel. Also replaced my wooden spoons and rubber scrapers. Actually it's kind of fun buying new things because when I said ancient, I meant "ancient". lol

[RavenG]

I did toss out some (but not all) Tupperware since it was ancient and I knew I wasn't comfortable using it. I figured the bowls needed to be history as they were used for gluteny cakes, cookies, etc. Some other Tupperware storage containers I kept depending on the condition.

How about non-stick pots and pans, especially if they are scratched? Mine probably should have been thrown out ages ago so I did when I went gluten-free (bought an inexpensive set of T-Fal to replace it because sometimes I do like to use non-stick cookware). I kept my good Calphalon cookware and just gave it a good scrubbing.

I don't have a ceramic tile countertop but I would think giving it a good scrubbing would work.

Do you use strainers for pasta? I also tossed mine, as well as a Tupperware colander, which I just loved so I replaced it with stainless steel. Also replaced my wooden spoons and rubber scrapers. Actually it's kind of fun buying new things because when I said ancient, I meant "ancient". lol

I just completely switched my kitchen over as well. We bought a new convection/rotisserie/toaster oven, new cast iron enameled cookware, new plastic stirring spoons, serving stuff, measuring cups, measuring spoons, colanders, cutting boards, cookie sheets, cake and pie pans and can opener. I kept all of my "hard" plastic food containers and replaced everything else with pyrex containers. It was expensive but well worth it. I was recently diagnosed and I had a hard time coming to terms with getting rid of all of my stuff....I mean, I couldn't possibly be "that" sensitive to stuff, right? But I am. I know immediately now when I get gluttened and I was sick of being SO careful and then getting sick anyway.

[sa1937]

I just completely switched my kitchen over as well. We bought a new convection/rotisserie/toaster oven, new cast iron enameled cookware, new plastic stirring spoons, serving stuff, measuring cups, measuring spoons, colanders, cutting boards, cookie sheets, cake and pie pans and can opener. I kept all of my "hard" plastic food containers and replaced everything else with pyrex containers. It was expensive but well worth it. I was recently diagnosed and I had a hard time coming to terms with getting rid of all of my stuff....I mean, I couldn't possibly be "that" sensitive to stuff, right? But I am. I know immediately now when I get gluttened and I was sick of being SO careful and then getting sick anyway.

I kept my 50+ year-old stainless steel measuring cups because I really like them...just scrubbed them to death to make sure they were really clean. First thing I replaced in the baking dept. were my bread pans as after tasting some nasty gluten-free bread, I decided I needed to make my own (that's before I discovered Udi's) but since that time I do occasionally still bake my own (like today I have flours measured out to warm them up so when I get off here, I plan to make a loaf of bread so it's ready by lunchtime). And I'm finding I bake quite a few quick breads.

Glass baking pans and CorningWare are so easy to clean that I never did ditch any of that.

I also started replacing cake pans, muffin pans, etc. Gave my DIL my old angel food cake pan and bundt pan. As I said, I had some really old stuff! After my kids grew up, I never did bake much as I didn't need all those goodies sitting around here. But I find it fun to be able to buy some new stuff!

Another thing...I've found that aluminum foil and parchment paper are my friends. I use parchment paper a lot even though I have decent cookie sheets. And aluminum foil really makes clean-up pretty easy, too, when using some old pans.

[frieze]

i'm thinking the counter top may be a problem.....check with a place like lowes or home depot and see if there is such a thing as food safe sealer...if not you would have to dig out the grout and regrout or simply keep any and all food of the countertop....good luck

[sb2178]

I bought a rice cooker and find it very very helpful.

[TooManyHats]

i'm thinking the counter top may be a problem.....check with a place like lowes or home depot and see if there is such a thing as food safe sealer...if not you would have to dig out the grout and regrout or simply keep any and all food of the countertop....good luck

This is why I was nervous. I can see a REALLY big plastic cutting board in my future.

[cap6]

I have granite counters that I have scrubbed the heck out of. I still worried some about any nooks & crannies so bought a very large glass cutting board. Tossed all the old ones.

[sa1937]

Personally I'd just give the countertops a good scrubbing but then I never prepare foods directly on the countertop. I did buy new cutting boards and always use them. Thankfully they are inexpensive so you could buy a couple of different sizes (plus they can go in the dishwasher...providing they are not made of wood).

[cap6]

do you have a preferred cleaner? I worry that the cleaner won't kill the gluten.

[sa1937]

do you have a preferred cleaner? I worry that the cleaner won't kill the gluten.

I doubt you can "kill" gluten with any cleaner (unless you count heat of a gas grill or putting cast iron in a self-cleaning oven and burning it off) but I think you could get countertops clean with a number of different products. I've used 409, scrubbie-bubbles bath cleaner, etc. On my hard-anodized Calphalon cookware I use Comet Cleanser...that would be too harsh for countertops (unless it was probably the soft-scrub stuff).

But then I never prepare foods directly on my countertops so I'm not really paranoid about that. That doesn't mean I'm not paranoid about other things. lol

[Pac]

do you have a preferred cleaner? I worry that the cleaner won't kill the gluten.

You can't "kill" gluten, but prolamins are soluble in alcohol, no? Shouldn't it then be the best to try cleaning it with an alcohol solution? It's just my guess, I'm no chemist.

[Austin Guy]

How about sponges and towels. I tossed the old sponges, but can gluten be washed out of towels or should I replace them all?

[domesticactivist]

I have a post about this on the blog linked from my profile. It's called "going 100% gluten free" good luck!

[Austin Guy]

I have a post about this on the blog linked from my profile. It's called "going 100% gluten free" good luck!

Just went to your blog - good stuff. Thanks!

[Schatz]

I can't seem to find an answer to whether I need to replace my cast iron pans. Should I?

[domesticactivist]

I can't seem to find an answer to whether I need to replace my cast iron pans. Should I?

We reseasoned ours. This involved putting them through a self-clean cycle in the oven that got over 600 degrees for more than an hour. Then we scraped them off and went through the process of putting fat in them and baking them at low temps. Sorry I'm in a hurry, if you google seasoning cast iron pans I think you'll get some good results.

[Schatz]

I use reusable bags for sandwiches. If you go to reuseit.com you can see what kind I use. They are similar to the SnackTaxi bags and I also have the Wrap-n-Mat.

I have washed these on my sanitary cycle. Is that enough? Do I need to get rid of them? Sigh, they're expensive (for me) so it'd be great if I could keep them.